One of my pullets is not herself.Usually when i go in with food - they all gather to check what i have got then once i put the food down - they all go berserk!She looks fine, bright eyes, but not interested in the food at all. i picked her up - (had to catch her first!) checked her over - thinking she might be suffering with mites, but there is no sign of them. Her skin is pink, a little dry, feathers look good. bum clean! As i lay her down - fluid started coming out of her beak. I am assuming since she was laid down - her crop was emptying. It was very fluid - it didn't seem to look worrying, but there seemed to be quite a bit. Once i let her go - she scooted off away then just stood like she was daydreaming? Any ideas folks?

She has a digestive impaction I'm afraid. Can be caused by eating long grass and they usually show signs of illness about two weeks later. You need to get a vet to drain her crop as the contents will be going sour. Sometimes the blockages clear, particularly if they are wormed, but usually the condition is fatal.

oh gosh! i really hope not. she has been put in a separate cage, still within the chickens area. i ensured it was all extra clean, with new fresh bedding for her and put fresh water in with added gut conditioner. and small amount of food. i watched her today for some time, drinking, running around but no eating. her poo is runny white, with bits looks like curds.

Watery poo is another sign of digestive compaction as Chris has suggested I'm afraid. You have an outside chance of shifting the blockage (if it is in the crop) by feeding her olive oil and gently massaging the crop three or four times a day, it has worked for me before when I have caught it early enough. If it is in the gizzard then there is nothing you can do.

*Sigh* Birds have such delicately and fiendishly balanced innards. Very resilient when working but when things go wrong it feels like watching a tower of cards fall down I know what you mean about the 'bits looking like curds.' I used to think it was bits of digested egg but went off that idea and it wouldn't be egg with a pullet of course. I think its just a general symptom of things not being right in the digestive tract and not a indicator of any particular cause.If you were thinking of using a vet it would best to get an appointment sooner rather than later.

...The water from the beak is a much clearer symptom along the lines of a digestive blockage and as above. I hope things turn around for her.

Sorry ChickInn,and sorry Dinosaw. I wasn't disagreeing with you or Chris - it was just interesting to hear about and gather a bit more info re the 'curds'.It happens so easily and unexpectedly this long grass thing. I have always given my hens straw (not hay) for their nests because they like to nest build with it and never had an issue with them eating it but just yesterday when the new pullets were out, I entered the run to see all three of them with the ends of straws sticking out of their mouths. There followed a cartoon chase and managed to retrieve it from 2. The last gobbled it down before I got to her. So fingers crossed.Iv'e replaced it with auboise - It was funny to see Bonnie do a double take on her way in to lay an egg this morning.

Aubiose is much better for nest boxes than either hay or straw, as it's so much easier to poo pick when needed. I've always been careful about chickens' access to long grass, but for years I've been giving mine large handfuls of short, fresh, tender lawn mowings, with no ill effects so far. Have I just been lucky, do you think?

I very much doubt you have been running any risk with mowings from a fine tended lawn Marigold - but it does beg the question of how long is too long for a pullet? and I presume its a quantity thing too rather than just gobbling down a couple of stray meadow grass blades or there would be no free range chickens left standing.Mine (as hens) have steadily stripped 1.5 inch turf (uncut) with no ill effect but most of that would be breaking off in smaller pieces.(except when I dropped the turf base in the dust bath and it dried to a fine powder - that was a very bad mistake!)